from the and-the-message-board-folded dept

PopeHilarius writes in to alert us to an unfortunate situation. Apparently the private school Adelphi in Bay Ridge, New York, couldn't handle the fact that there was a Bay Ridge messageboard that had a critical thread about the school, including links to some news articles that were highly critical of the school.

Rather than respond to those claims, the school sent the messageboard owner a cease and desist letter, demanding the entire thread be removed. Tragically, the message board owner apparently was unfamiliar with Section 230 of the CDA and the rights of a service provider to resist such efforts, and just took down the whole thread. This is unfortunate, though, commenters on the thread appear to be reposting the same articles (and explaining section 230 to the board operator).

But, really, this is why lawyers still send bogus cease-and-desist letters: all too often they work. Having been on the receiving end of a few such letters, it's pretty damn scary to know you might get sued, and even if you know you're right, the whole concept of having to fight it can be scary (and expensive) unless you can find a good lawyer to represent you pro bono -- which isn't easy for many to do. It's legal bullying at its finest, but it works way too often. This is one reason, by the way, that we really could use a strong, federal, anti-SLAPP law, that would help sites understand that they can't be silenced just because someone doesn't like what they say, and gives those sites an easy, clear and inexpensive way to get any such cases dismissed quickly.

Lawyers

Yep, it's a lawyer-thing! Since the law has been specifically crafted to keep Joe Average from any real knowledge of the law lawyers have been bullying citizens. Few, if any, really want to go to court, however. If you are a business owner it's a very good idea to spend some time learning the law that applies to your business. Then you can "push back" when necessary.

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Why would either of those scenarios change the story? Neither personal information posted or libelous comments would change the fact that the message board owner would be protected under section 230 of the CDA.

Another Complete Shilltard(tm)

"Without the full thread, we don't know if there was anything in there that was libelous. We don't know if there was anything exposed such as personal information or other.

Another incomplete assignment, Mr Masnick."

And that matters how? Section 230 protects REGARDLESS of the type of comments made, that is its entire purpose.

The only incomplete here is you, and your understanding of the law. Next time you want to take a jab at your betters to try to look superior, maybe you should consider actually knowing what you are talking about.

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Without the full thread, we don't know if there was anything in there that was libelous.

This is absolutely true. We do not know that. But, under Section 230 that doesn't matter.

We don't know if there was anything exposed such as personal information or other.

Again, this is true, but again, under section 230 it does not matter -- and even if there were personal information, asking for the entire thread to be taken down goes beyond reasonable. Instead, the request could have just been for the individual information to be taken down.

On the whole, I believe I covered the story fairly. If you have additional information, I would expect you to add it in the comments.

Another incomplete assignment, Mr Masnick.

Indeed. As is every post on this site. The whole point is that I write my opinions based on what is available, and I expect the conversation to continue in the comments, as those with more info add that info in the comments. I don't think that any story is ever complete, which is a good thing.

Know your rights people and laws pertaining to what you do to a certain degree. Only a stupid lawyer that likes losing badly goes to the wall for something like this. Most lawyers in cases like this rely on your ignorance of the law for compliance and generally slink back to their holes when confronted with the exact opposite. Unless of course his/her ego gets the better of them. In that case spend a little to get a big fat settlement from his/her stupid ass.

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This is absolutely true. We do not know that. But, under Section 230 that doesn't matter.

Incorrect - if the service provider is also actively posting on their message board, and actively editing posts, "230" protection could go out the window. For all we know, the objectionable posts were made by the site operators.

Since you don't know, you cannot draw conclusions. It's too bad that many of your "discussions" here leave many of your following thinking they have the whole story.

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Incorrect - if the service provider is also actively posting on their message board, and actively editing posts, "230" protection could go out the window. For all we know, the objectionable posts were made by the site operators.

Again, this does not matter. Various cases have involved even situations where a mailing list owner forwarded emails from someone else. In that case, they were specifically choosing which emails to forward to a mailing list... and still got Section 230 safe harbor protection.

Again, I will note that if you have something relevant to add to the discussion, it would be great.

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So it was only a single case, rather than "various cases".

legal opinion I got from someone who deals with online stuff all the time says that "230" doesn't always apply. He also suggested that things like T&C for board operators (on shared chat platforms, example) may mean that the board would get shut down or threads removed if they violate the T&C of hosting. There are plenty of angles.

Without further information, it's a crap shoot to find out why. Mike, perhaps you might want to send some emails and ask, as opposed to just winging it?

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So it was only a single case, rather than "various cases".

No, various cases have made it clear that even if you are actively involved in the content you can still get Section 230 protections.

legal opinion I got from someone who deals with online stuff all the time says that "230" doesn't always apply. He also suggested that things like T&C for board operators (on shared chat platforms, example) may mean that the board would get shut down or threads removed if they violate the T&C of hosting. There are plenty of angles.

Ah. Well that's credible. And wrong.

Without further information, it's a crap shoot to find out why. Mike, perhaps you might want to send some emails and ask, as opposed to just winging it?

Heh. Again, you seem entirely misinformed about how this works. Do you have any additional info to add?